Case
Case Solved
Your principal does not like your teaching style

You are in your second year of teaching in a rural, isolated elementary school. Even though you feel as though you are doing an excellent job using the latest cutting-edge pedagogical methods, you sense that your principal does not like your teaching style even though he has not said so. At the end of the school year, you receive a letter from the district saying that your contract will not be renewed. Is this legal? Why or why not?

Posted on: 09/09/14 | Views: 1797
Solution #1
Top Solution
This is definitely NOT legal. The principal hasn't given you any feedback as to your instructional methods and therefore should not be allowed to terminate you. I would go to my principal after receiving the letter to address and issues they have had with you and to ask why weren't you given any feedback. I will also go down to the district building to find out if reasons were listed for my non-renewal and explain that I was never given a heads up and any feedback from my principal.

I totally agree with this solution. It is vital to do your homework with cases like this. I would be trying to find answers myself.

I agree with this case study. I will utilize this information once I become a teacher.

33 0
Solution #2
Top Solution
No, this is not legal. Wouldn't this be the reason for observations throughout the year? They have to let you know how you are doing and they also must help you to try to fix the problem. There are many steps administration has to take in order to not renew your contract and they must have valid reasons as to why. They can't just say they "don't like your teaching style".

I agree with this solution. I would make sure that I was persistant about getting an explanation of why this has happened.

I agree with this solution. If this happened to me I would be consistent in finding out why this decision was made.

21 0
Solution #3
I would schedule a meeting with the principal just to confirm what it is exactly he does not like about my teaching style. I would approach the situation open minded and ask for his advice on what changes I could have made to meet his standards. I would not have waited until I was let go to address my concerns. The first thing I would have done after I was let go would be to contact my union rep.
1 0
Solution #4
This case does not seem legal. I would ask to talk to someone in the district, and ask for reasoning behind the contract not being renewed. Also, once you have talked to someone that has some significance, and depending on the reason I would ask for data.
0 0
Solution #5
This is legal. If you think the principal doesn't like you teaching, you should have communicated with her before the district sent you a letter.
0 0
Solution #6
Technically, or at least in the county I used to work in, if you don't have tenure in a school system they aren't required to give you a detailed reason as to why your contract isn't being renewed. I would be interested to see what the principal said in the teacher's evaluations though. Throughout my three years at my previous county I know plenty of teachers whose contracts were not renewed and it was not illegal by any means. Once you signed to teach your 4th year in the county, you received tenure.
0 4